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Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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Posted by graywings 7MD (My Page) on Fri, Jul 3, 09 at 20:25
| Can anyone give me a name for this ground cover?
Looking at the photo, I realize there are several plants in there. I'm asking about the dark shiny leaves. The stems are thin but hard to pull out of the ground. If it is not overly invasive, it is an attractive plant.
Here is a close-up:
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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| Trachelospermum asiaticum I believe. |
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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| I vote for Vinca. It looks a little different from the periwinkle my parents have in VA, but looks to be Vinca to me. It is a little invasive but doesn't climb like Trachelospermum. |
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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| No question about this one -- Saltcedar has corredtly identified it (as usual) Regards, Ted |
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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| I'm not familiar with Trachelospermum, I've rarely seen Saltcedar incorrect here, and I've been wrong twice on this forum just in the last 48 hours. Nevertheless, I just went out and looked at my Vinca minor, and I can't tell the difference between my vinca and the pictured plant here. What differentiates the two, and what makes this one Trachelospermum rather than vinca? |
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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Honestly it could be either but Vinca minor is less
common and less vigorous the further South you
go so in this case in zone7 it's more likely to be
Trachelospermum asiaticum is all, which is why
I said 'I believe'. We tend to see what what we
expect to see when ID'ing plants. I was fortunate
to grow up in the North then move South and
travel to Australia and other countries which
gave me a slight edge in identifications. |
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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| Thanks, Saltcedar. I live in the colder end of Zone 7, and had never even heard of Trachelospermum before this. Vinca, on the other hand, is very common in my part of z7. I learn a lot from you here. |
And having said all that.....
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I've changed my mind. Think Carrie and Carol had it right.
It seems to be missing the depressed veins and slightly rugose
surface |
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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| Tedhort's got it no doubt: Trachelospermum asiaticum. |
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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| So if saltcedar has changed his/her mind to vinca minor, are Tedhort and Funnelweb agreeing with that? |
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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| Graywings, I actually have both Vinca minor and Trachelospermum asiaticum growing in my garden. (The wonders of a temperate climate!) I am pretty certain this is Vinca minor. |
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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| Of course we are! I have both growing, though my Vinca is the variegated vinca major (or minor) - I find experts differ; with blue flowers in spring. As it's mid winter here (no flowers), I'll tkae a picture of my Trachie tomorrow and post it. |
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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| I am still inclined to believe that the hand held plant shown in the photo above is a Trachelospermum. Both genuses are in the same family however, from my observations, Vinca displays leaves rather more acuminate that those of Trach. I guess a flower will settle it :) Ted |
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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| You sent me to the dictionary with that one, tedhort: acuminate: tapering gradually to a sharp point. |
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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| Well I'm sitting here with a piece of each on the keyboard and I'm still convinced the OP has Vinca minor (not V major which has a different leaf shape). Certainly on my plants the leaves of the Trachelospermum are MORE acuminate than the Vinca and not such a dark green. Also the Trachelospermum leaves often tend to bend at 90 degrees to their petioles giving a drooping appearance. Furthermore the Trach twines which the Vinca does not. In the picture of the plant as ground cover there is no sign of twining. The stems just seem to be creeping over the ground. |
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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| For comparison with the OP's photos, I just went out into my garden and took these photos of my vinca minor. 
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RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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I have vinca all over my old farm place - don't know if it is major or minor - but it is DEFINITELY not hard to pull. It has a very shallow root and comes up easy.
I don't know if that will have any bearing in identifyig what graywings has here. |
RE: Ground cover Zone 7 VA
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| I can say one thing for certain -- I'd hate to bet my life on this ID :). Just another observation or point of interest to consider is that Trachelospermum will occasionally tend to produce aerial roots when near brick work or timber. To my knowledge, Vinca does'nt. Anyway, this has all been very interesting and either way, much information has been shared. Ted |
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